The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-05-11
A Fatal Rencounter Between Col.
Jones 8. Hamilton and r. u.
Gambrell, ESQ.

near the west end OF the bridge on Capi- |
toll street, and both being armed with
pistols, a desperate struggle ensued.
Gambrell was struck with three bullets,
one Of which entered at the knee, an
other below the left ear, and the third
below the navel, passing through the
body and lodging just under the skin of
the back. Hamilton was also struck
with three bullets, one passing through
the left arm below the elbow, another
lodging in the same arm above the el-
bow, and a third entering the body
below the ribs and to the left of the
median line. 1t is possible that the ball
which passed through Hamilton's left
arm is the same which entered his body.
Gambrell did not long survive his
wounds. Hamilton is doing well, and
though not out of danger, viii probably
recover.
The fighting must have been deter
mined and desperate and in close quar-
tiers, as Gambrell's face was considera-
bly, bruised by blows from a pistol, and
Hamilton's clothing was set on fire by
the shot he received in his elbow.
Two theories of the meeting are dis
cussed on the streets-one that Hamilton
was passing Gambrell (who was on the
sidewalk in his buggy, when he was
fred on without warning, and got out of
his buggy before returning the fire;
another, that he was at the bridge ac-
companied by friends before Gambrell
reached the bridge, and opened fire on
him as he approached. We believe that
it is conceded that Minis Eubank, a
young boy and an employee of Colonel
Hamilton who is in the habit of
accompanying him everywhere, and the
driver of the vehicle, were present when
the shooting commenced.
The coroner's jury, which was impan-
neIled Immediately after the shooting,
and was in session till some time Satur
day night, did not agree on their YER
dict. Five of them found that Gambrell
"came to his death from pistol shots and
wounds inflicted by the hands of Jonas
S. Hamilton as principal, and others as
abettors unknown to the jury" The
sixth dissented from that verdict but
agreed to the following: eve, the jury
of inquest in the case of ROderick Gam
brell, find thai he came to his death by
wounds from pistol in the hands of
Jones S. Hamilton"
The testimony before the jury was e.
parte, and we forbear to print or COM
ment on it, because an investigation
will shortly be had at which both
sides will be represented. The testimo-
ny given at such an examination will
doubtless be printed in full, and until
there has been such an examination, it
is the suggestion Of fairness that judg
ment and criticism be withheld.
On Monday, Rev. J. B. Gambrell, the
father of r. d. Gambrell, made an aft
davit against Hamilton, Minis Eu-
bank, above referred to, VIM. Hardy,
Col. Hamilton's colored driver, VIM.
Figures and J. w. Albrecht, charging
them with the murder of his son, and
they are now under arrest. Colonel
Hamilton, on account of his wounds,
being permitted to remain at his home.
The Sloord and Shield, of which r. D
Gambrell is the editor, in its issue of the
23d of April, contained an editorial
from which the following matter per-
sonal to Col. Hamilton, is taken:
but since the Colonel [Hamilton] has
been brought before the public, it is legiti-
mate 10 give some reasons why the Demo
cratic party and the people at large should
not be again burdened by his service for
himself in the Senate The first reason is
that no man ought to sit in that honorable
body who is not a man Of high personal
character. Kinds county is not so desti-
tuLe of men to serve her as to be compelled
to take up a man, who stands before the
world convicted by the Governors official
statement with having signed and pub
lished false statements concerning his in
debtedness to the State.
"Before Col. Hamilton again offers him.
self as a candidate for public office, he
should make good his accounts with the
State No one having defrauded the State
should be placed in any position of honor
and power
moreover, Col. Hamilton is now seek
ing to defraud the State out of near $4,000
by slipping through loophole in his
bond We very modestly say this is not
the kind of a man to represent the high
toned manhood of Kinds county in the
Senate
"But there is another reason why Col.
Hamilton should be kept out OF the Senate.
While representing the county in that
body, he has for years worked in the inter
est of his own jobs, and he still has job
on his hands, as he is likely to have as
long as he lives, and long suffering people
will bear his oily methods.
"Other reasons might be given, such as
Col Hamilton's former political associa-
tions, his fellowship with the most corrupt
element in the county, his support of the
corrupt radical rule of Jackson, but we
have said enough now"
And in the same issue there also APP
pears the following paragraph;
''Maybe after all, Col. Hamilton will be
nominated. He proposed last summer to
organize a whisky niger party" and
maybe that party will nominate him, but
in case it should, we predict that Col.
Hamilton will be as badly left as he and
his gang were on the 10th of last August"
The occasion of the assault en- Col.
Hamilton was the publication of a card
asking if he would be candidate for
State Senator and promising hearty sup
port.
One week after the publication of the
editorial paragraph above quoted from
the .S,cord and Shield, viz: on the Both
of April, the Sicord and Shield thus
spoke of the status of affairs between
Gambrell and Hamilton:
ssPEoPLE WILL TALK.
'sTo show what liars some men are, we
need only state some of the many rumors
set afioat since the publication of our rea-
sons why Jones S. Hamilton Should not
again be elected to the Senate. The ink
was hardly dry on the article when the